Amazing Spaces

Notting Hill Gate and Earl's Court Road

The areas around Notting Hill Gate and Earl’s Court Road, what we have done so far and how to get involved in ideas for future improvements.

Notting Hill Gate Local Action Plan

What is the action plan?

The plan gives a series of actions to improve the high street which are ready to be implemented in the short, medium, or long term.

This action plan is not a statutory document. It is a framework, updated over time to reflect the changing nature of high streets and community aspirations.

Where we are now

The Notting Hill Gate draft action plan was open for for comments for six weeks between 13 May and 23 June 2024.

We received 155 responses. The results are being analysed and we hope to share them in summer 2025. Find out more about the draft proposals on our story map.

Next steps

The action plan will remain a live document after the consultation so additional project ideas can still be submitted.

What is the draft vision for Notting Hill Gate?

The vision has been created by the community working group. Notting Hill Gate will be a green, healthy, safe and welcoming high street with a unique identity. A place that inspires and delights, meets the needs of residents and attract visitors and businesses.

What are the draft objectives of the action plan?

The vision for Notting Hill Gate and high street principles were translated into a series of actions by the community working group. They see a high street:

• aimed at pedestrians with more opportunities to gather
• well-managed, well-maintained, accessible, welcoming, and safe for all
• walking, cycling and public transport friendly
• greener and climate conscious

The high street will:

• celebrate its own individual character and history with a strong identity rooted in public art and cultural attractions
• support retail and essential services

Community working group

The actions have been developed with a community working group of:

• residents
• local businesses
• ward councillors
• council officers

The working group has been meeting since November 2022; about 20 people attended each session to create a vision, objectives, and a list of projects to improve the high street. Urban designers Studio PDP and traffic consultants WSP were also involved to ensure initial viability.

Discussions were also informed by a survey asking people about the emerging priorities and invited ideas for potential improvements. The survey, which ran from September 2022 to January 2023, received 98 responses. Find out more about the survey on our Notting Hill Gate Local Action Plan feedback page.

The project team interviewed 20 local businesses in early 2023 to ask their views on what is the trading environment like in Notting Hill Gate and what they would like to see improved.

The draft action plan has also been informed by workshops with the Youth Council and local pupils from Fox Primary and Holland Park schools, facilitated by ZCD Architects.

Find out more about how the community helped to shape the action plan on the story map.

How will the action plan be implemented?

All the proposed actions are subject to further checking and modelling. The outlined actions are ambitious, and some would require council support to be delivered, for example, pavement widening and improvements to pedestrian crossings. Smaller actions could be delivered by the community, for example, hanging baskets and new public artwork.

We will publish further guidance on how to deliver proposed actions following consultation.

Contact us

To sign up for updates, email the Project team: [email protected].

Earl's Court Road Local Action Plan

About Earl’s Court

Earl’s Court is well known in London and internationally as the former home of the exhibition centre which hosted a range of sporting, music and other cultural events until its demolition in 2016. In the 1970s and 1980s, the area was well known as a LGBTQ+ destination.

The high street shops, restaurants and services on Earl’s Court Road that make up the district centre of Earl’s Court are surrounded by a largely residential, well-designed historic townscape. Earl’s Court Tube station at the centre of the high street, provides excellent public transport connections.

Challenges

Earl's Court is an area with rich history and potential but is facing a series of challenges that have hindered its growth and prosperity.

Local businesses have reported a decline in footfall, citing competition from other areas as a significant factor. The streets of Earl's Court have also been seen by some as dirty and unsafe, with pressing matters such as anti-social behaviour contributing to an unwelcoming atmosphere. Also, inadequate public spaces and pedestrian infrastructure add to these issues, further discouraging potential visitors and patrons.

Earl's Court has many strengths that provide a solid base for improvement and growth:

• the area's historic significance
• transport connections
• existing commercial base
• strong community interest

Achievements to date

We have already:

• adopted a Placemaking Framework in April 2023 setting out the council’s priorities for the opportunity area
• supported a local business forum
• conducted a BID feasibility research and scoping options.
• implemented a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the area, which will be in place until April 2027

Introducing the PSPO aims to:

• reduce littering
• stop street urination
• avoid public consumption of alcohol
• reduce loitering
• reduce inappropriate use of bikes and scooters

Where we are now

We asked for your views on a vision and collection of projects within the draft local action plan consultation for Earl’s Court Road, which was open until November 2024. We asked you to choose your most important project from each of the three project categories:

• improving the environment
• character and heritage
• managing the street

We also asked for your views on the draft Earl’s Court Shopfront Design Guide, and if you had ideas for any further projects for the local action plan. Find full feedback details and what actions we are taking on the consultation website.

Next steps

Read the updated version of the local action plan on our story map. 

About Hogarth Road

An opportunity was identified to improve the public space on Hogarth Road by:

• widening the pavements
• improving the street surface
• planting new trees

Improvements to the street would give the local community and visitors a high-quality space to enjoy and provide a pleasant setting for the vibrant collection of shops and small businesses.

Why have we invested in the area?

This is one of the oldest parts of Earl’s Court. It is a pretty street with attractive shopfronts, the focal point of the kiosk and special alleyway through to Kenway Road with a variety of independent and useful businesses. We have invested in the area because:

• the location close to the ‘front door’ to Earl’s Court and the Tube
• the side streets have a special character in contrast to the main road
• there is opportunity to add trees and greenery close to the busy high street and main road which are good for air quality, biodiversity and character
• outdoor café seating has calmed traffic and proved successful to add to bustling character
• this will enhance the Earl’s Court Village Conservation Area

Where we are now

The key points we have heard from local people and businesses are:

• there is a good community atmosphere with many established local businesses
• vehicle access should be retained
• a designated loading bay for deliveries would be helpful
• the area feels unsafe, especially in the evenings
• there is anti-social behaviour including people urinating in the street, affecting how businesses can operate and creating an unpleasant environment
• a market could work well here
• the pavement is dirty and stained, piles of rubbish bags tend to accumulate
• there is a collection of Filipino businesses here and in the immediate area that make it a centre for the Filipino community
• the Gingko tree is a problem in autumn when smelly, sticky fruit litters the pavement
• a good community atmosphere with many local established businesses
• the area doesn’t feel as well cared for as other parts of the borough

How we got here

We launched a six-week consultation on proposals for the area in November 2023 which closed on Thursday 7 December 2023. View the proposals and consultation summary on our consultation hub. Construction of the scheme started on Monday 28 October 2024. The resurfacing of the pavement and the road is now complete and the new street trees have been planted. The road has been opened to traffic.

Next steps

The final elements of the scheme will be completed in June 2025, including planting of the new flower beds under the Gingko tree. Cafés and restaurants on the street will be able to apply for a licence for tables and chairs on the wider pavements for visitors to enjoy outdoor hospitality.